Window sash balance



Oct. 3l, 1939. AA vll-:Hwx-:GER

WINDOW SASH BALANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 3, 1937 Oct. 31,1939. A, VIEHWEGER 2,178,533

WINDOW SASH BALANCE v Filed June s, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 atented @en 31, 1939 tra TES

rarer orsics Grand Rapids Hardware Company,

Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 3, 1937, Serial No. 145,220

1 Claim.

This. invention relates to a window sash balance and it aims to provide a novel construction, exceedingly compact, durable and unitary and adapted to be mortised in the side edges of the sash flush with the edges thereof.

It is further aimed to provide such a structure wherein the rotor or spiral element has a spiral groove, is somewhat springy, and operates in connection with a strip which extends into the same housing or casing which mounts the spiral element or rotor and associated spring mechanism.

Another object is to provide a novel construction which is simplified and avoids the necessity of employing a casing orhousing to enclose the parts, and such a construction as will permit both sashes to be raised or lowered to the full limit permitted by the window frame.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a view, fragmentary, partly in front elevation and partly in section showing my improvement applied to window sashes and a window frame;

Figure 2 is a view through my sash balance with the casing or housing in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged substantialy central longitudinal sectional view through the device at the upper end;

Figure 4 is an enlarged substantially central longitudinal sectional view through the device at the lower end;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a cross section taken on the line B-- of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing a modified form of the invention;

Figure 10 is a View showing a window sash balance of the modified form alone and partly broken away to disclose details;

Figure l1 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through the upper portion of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a longitudinal'sectional View of the lower portion of Figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a detail cross section taken on the (ci iti-1st) Referring speciiically to the drawings wherein like reierence characters designate like or similar parts throughout the dierent views, it represents conventional vertically slidable window sashes operatively mounted .in a frame il. Such 5 sashes at each side are mortised at i2 and in each mortise, a balance device or unit generally desig-k nated i3 is disposed so es to be ush with the side edges oi such sashes.

Each device or unit consists' of a casing or 10 housing i4, of stamped or cast metal or other material as desired, preferably of the cross sectional shape best shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. .At the lower end of the housing, it has an extension l5 at the outer wall thereof and a bracket it is riv- 15 eted or otherwise fastened at ,to such wall. A bearing or socket member I8 is interiitted with such bracket by means of a journal I9.

A hollow spiral element 2!) is adapted to rotate within the casing i4 and at its lower end sur- 20 rounds and is fastened to the bearing I8 by means of a pin 2i, passing through the spiral element. `Said spiral element has a spiral groove 22 and the spiral element is of spring metal.

At the upper end of the casing or housing I4, 25 a bearing 23 is disposed and adjacent the same within the spiral element is a bushing at 24 on which the spiral element is journaled. Bearing 23 is pinned or otherwise fastened at 25 to the casing against rotation. 30

A strip 25 is disposed for the most part within the housing |4 between the flat wall thereof and the spiral element and it has a projection 2l disposed in the groove 22. Such strip also has a lug or the equivalent 28 thereon adapted to be fas- 35 tened by means of a screw or the like 29 passing through an opening 30 thereof and into the wmdow frame Il, the strip 26 thus being rigidly fastened to the window frame while 'the remainder of the device is adapted to slide with the window sash.

A rod 3| has its lower end journaled in a recess 32 of bearing i8 and at its upper end it extends through bearing 23, and is fastened immovably thereto as by means of a pin or the equivalent 33 extending through the bearing and an opening of a series of openings 34 in the rod 3|. Surrounding the rod 3| is a. coil spring 36 whose lower end is anchored at 31 to the bearing I8 and its Vother end is fastened as at 38 to the rod 3|. The series of openings 34 permit an adjustable connection.

Since the spiral element 20 is a spring, it has a tendency to give and take in any movement up and down of the sash. The window sashes can be shipped with the devices applied in the mortises.

In the operation of the device, the sashes may be moved up or down during which action, the spiral element 20 will rotate due to -the interengagement of the projection 21 in the spiral groove thereof, winding or unwinding the spring 36 as the case may be, thus controlling its tension, and the balancing ofthe' sash. It will be clear that the spring must be wound in opposite directions depending on whether the balances are applied to upper or lower sashes.

Referring now to the modified form disclosed in Figures 9 to 13, a window frame is shown at I la in Figure 9, in which sashes- |4a are vertically slidable. These sashes have countersunk into their longitudinal side edges, modified forms ofwindow sash balances generally designated 40. 'I'his modified form of balance consists of a longitudinally split tube 4I having one end extended to form an attaching tang or plate 42, equipped with pointed spurs 4l adapted to penetrate the wood, the tang 42 having an opening 44 therethrough to accommodate a screw or other fastening 45 as used to secure the same to the window frame lia.

The spiral element is shown at 46 and such spiral element is hollow, has a spiral groove 41 and is of spring metal so as to have a tendency to give and take in any movement up and down of the sash.

Pinned or otherwise fastened at 48 in the upper end of the spiral element 46 is a block 49 having a socket 58, in which a shaft or rod 5I is journaled and which shaft or rod 5I is fastened by means of a pin 52 to an attaching bracket 53 adapted to be screwed or otherwise fastened as'at 54 to the adjacent sash i4a. The tube 4`I may be made from a single sheet f metal bent into shape and it preferably has an inwardly struck lug or other projection at 55 which extends into the spiral groove 41. A coil spring Il surrounds the rod or shaft 5| and has one end Il anchored to the block or plug 49 while its opposite end is anchored at to the shaft Il, beneath which is a washer 62, surrounding shaft 5I and resting on a bushing 52a resting on the bracket 5I to which the spiral element 4| is fastened by means of a set screw at 6I.

This modified form o'f the device will function generally like that previously described since the spring 58 may be placed under any desired tension and the brackets 42 and 53 attached to the frame and to the sash.

Attention is called to the fact that this form of the invention avoids the use of the extra strip member as is necessary in connection with the rst form of the invention..

Various changes may be resorted to' provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.`

I claim as my invention:-

A sash balance of the class described having a casing, a bracket at one end thereof, a bearing journaled on .said brackets, a spiral element within the casing connected to the bearing, a bearing at the other end of the casing, a rod extending into the casing and fixed to the second mentioned bearing, spring means within the spiral element surrounding said rod and fa'stened to the rod at one end and to the first mentioned bearing at the other end, a strip extending into the casing and movable relatively thereto, said spiral element having a spiral groove, and means on the strip extending into said groove.

AUGUST VIEHWEGER. 

